According to the NAHB Model GREEN Home Building Guidelines, the process of green building incorporates environmental considerations into every phase of the home building process. That means that during the design, construction, and operation of a home, energy and water efficiency, lot development, resource efficient building design and materials, indoor environmental quality, homeowner maintenance, and the home's overall impact on the environment are all taken into account.

On June 20, 2008, the Montana Home Builders Association and Missoula Building Industry Association introduced a new voluntary residential green building program called the Montana Green Building Program, which is partnered with the Green Building InitiativeTM (GBI) and is designed to help produce more environmentally-friendly homes and increase energy-efficiency in Montana. The program has defined a baseline for practical green building methods and training resources for Montana builders.